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Is WAR a meaningful stat?

Some guy that was commenting on a baseball blog that I was reading posted the following about WAR:

"...Did you know that WAR is a man-made mathematical equation (like all advanced stats) that THEORETICALLY believes that it can determine a players value/worth. No truly knowledgeable advocate of it, or any of the advanced stats, use it as a factual or accurate measuring tool. They always refer to it in THEORY, not facts. Only the dimwits who donít know what it is to play baseball and donít know the root of advanced stats or advanced mathematics, are the ones that use advanced stats like their are factual, bible-like material. They are good for video game manuals or to know for fantasy baseball which are stats-based and driven. They are just clerical material when it comes to real baseball."

WAR is quite valid. What people have issues between is validity and gospel.

It's an excellent way of determining quick, overall value of a player. Generally, players with higher WAR = better player. Simple as that. Where people have issues with it are either not understanding the inherent flaws with the statistic or using it as pure gospel. It's a tool in the tool chest, not the entire tool chest, if that makes sense.

Some guy that was commenting on a baseball blog that I was reading posted the following about WAR:

"...Did you know that WAR is a man-made mathematical equation (like all advanced stats) that THEORETICALLY believes that it can determine a players value/worth. No truly knowledgeable advocate of it, or any of the advanced stats, use it as a factual or accurate measuring tool. They always refer to it in THEORY, not facts. Only the dimwits who don’t know what it is to play baseball and don’t know the root of advanced stats or advanced mathematics, are the ones that use advanced stats like their are factual, bible-like material. They are good for video game manuals or to know for fantasy baseball which are stats-based and driven. They are just clerical material when it comes to real baseball."

Thoughts?

I've and played and coached baseball for more years combined than about half or more of the posters here (25).

When using stats, I used advanced stats because they are far more revealing and insightful than traditional stats. I used only traditional stats for the first 26 years of my 46 years as as fan BTW.

There is nothing man made about park adjustments. The results of hitters and pitchers are captured in a database and park factors determined from that. Anyone that takes traditional hitting stats in Coors and Petco as the same is fooling themselves if they are trying to compare player A and player B.

I must say, sure seems like a bait thread, but, I've come to expect that from the traditionals since they are getting pressed from all sides. Anything but actually learn what it's about, eh?

I am not a con artist! I am a businessman! I have a big brain and I'm good at making deals! People are just jealous of my BIG BRAIN! BAD!

Have you ever even looked at the formula for WAR (or any "advanced metric", for that matter), or do you just decide that you don't like it because it doesn't go along with your traditional viewpoint on statistics?